Sample actions your orchestra might take

The most effective advocacy efforts are tailored to address a local community’s unique resources and opportunities, in partnership with local stakeholders. Your orchestra’s alignment in support of in-school music education helps your community. While there is a benefit to be gained for your orchestra, music education advocacy is a civic opportunity and a way to participate in broader community concerns. Below are examples of actions your orchestra might take to advocate for music education in your community.

Actively seek opportunities for key leaders of your orchestra (music director, musicians, executive director, and others) to speak on behalf of in-school music education in the local press, at school board meetings, and in other public settings.

Survey your entire board for ‘who knows whom’ amongst mayor, city/county officials, board of education, etc. (Reassure board members that no communication is initiated or occurs in the board member’s name without express permission.)

Get to know your community's school board members and other educational decision-makers, and share with them resources such as What School Leaders Can Do to Increase Arts Education, which offers three concrete actions that school principals can take with little-to-no cost to increase arts education in their schools in a variety of grade levels.

Ask board of education candidates for their position on increased resources for music/arts education in the schools.

Send information about benefits of arts education to legislators and school board members.

Send letters to the editor – in response to articles about music/arts education to increase dialogue and visibility of the issue in the community.

Your orchestra’s alignment in support of in-school music education helps your community. While there is a benefit to be gained for your orchestra, music education advocacy is a civic opportunity and a way to participate in broader community concerns.